Saint Clare, seated in the clouds among angels, a dragon below 1724 - 1734

Louis Desplaces created this print of Saint Clare in the late 17th or early 18th century. At the time, the Catholic Church was a major patron of the arts, commissioning works that reinforced religious doctrine and celebrated its saints. Here, Saint Clare, a 13th-century follower of Saint Francis of Assisi, is shown seated among angels, holding a monstrance. The dragon below represents evil or heresy, symbolizing the saint's triumph over worldly temptations. This work can be viewed through the lens of gender and power, because Saint Clare was a woman who chose a life of religious devotion and service, defying the conventional expectations placed on women during this time. She founded the Order of Poor Ladies, later known as the Poor Clares, a monastic order for women. By positioning Saint Clare in a celestial setting, Desplaces elevates her to a position of spiritual authority. Consider how the artist uses the imagery of the dragon to reinforce the Church’s teachings, presenting a clear dichotomy between good and evil and the importance of faith in overcoming adversity.